Friday, March 17, 2017

How to Wake Up Happy

How you wake up in the morning can have a huge impact on the rest of your day. If you wake up in a bad mood and rushed for time, odds are you're setting yourself up for negativity throughout the day. I've been in that position plenty of times - and often my anxiety increases and gets worse throughout the day. I've recently made it a point to try to wake up "happy" - and what a difference it makes! I find that I'm more efficient, productive and positive, and that my day is better in general. Here are a couple of steps you can take to wake up happy:

1. Pick out your outfit the night before
I'm one of those people that finds picking out an outfit very stressful (maybe that's just cause I'm a fashion blogger?! Or is that normal? haha). I try on tons of outfit combinations and by the time I'm fully dressed, there are clothes strewn all over my bed and floor. I've found that if I pick out my outfit the night before, I eliminate a ton of stress in the morning. I even pick out the accessories - my handbag, shoes and any jewelry I plan to wear. I keep the outfit folded by my bed or hanging right inside my closet so it's easy to access in the morning.

2. Open your blinds
Sunlight makes me so happy, and waking to a bright, sunlit room makes me happiest. I always raise the blinds right right before bed, so that I wake up to the sunrise. The light signals your brain that it's time to wake up - it works like a cup of coffee to get me out of bed and start my morning routine!

3. Do a devotion
One of my favorite ways to start out the day is spending time with the Lord, either by reading some of my favorite Bible verses or by doing a quick devotion. I love this devotional book - there's a different scripture and teaching for each day and they're always positive and uplifting.

4. Do the dishes the night before
This one might sound crazy, but hear me out. I find that I am much happier in the mornings when I walk into my kitchen to find an empty sink and clean kitchen. I make it a point to wash all my dishes (or put them in the dishwasher) the night before - it's a simple task, but it makes all the difference when you wake up. It is much easier to cook breakfast without all the clutter, too!

5. Look forward to breakfast
Make a breakfast that is healthy and delicious, but most of all one that you'll look forward to! Try a "banana split parfait" by cutting a banana in half and layering vanilla yogurt, fruit and a little bit of granola on top. Lately I've been throwing a frozen whole wheat waffle in the toaster and then slathering peanut butter and honey on top. It tastes so good that I think about it at night before I go to bed! Maybe instead of a fancy breakfast, you could make a special coffee drink in the morning - whatever it is, it should make you excited to wake up.

6. Meditate
Starting your day with 5 to 10 minutes of meditation is the perfect way to set the tone for your entire day and help you stay focused, content and optimistic. Find a comfortable spot in your house where you can sit, undisturbed. If you're new to meditation, try listening to a guided one like this one or this one. Or you could just journal for a few minutes, writing down everything your thankful for that day.

7. Play your favorite song while you brush your teeth
I find that one of the quickest and easiest ways to feel happy during the morning is to listen to one of my favorite songs while I'm brushing my teeth and putting my makeup on. I end up dancing around in my pajamas by the time the song is over! Some of my favorites right now are Body Like a Back Road and It Ain't Me.

8. Get plenty of sleep the night before
Getting enough sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it make you feel better, its importance goes beyond just boosting your mood - it helps benefit you heart, mind and even your weight, and can improve your memory, spur creativity and can help keep your stress levels low. I notice that when I get 8 hours of sleep, I wake up feeling and looking well-rested, without bags under my eyes.

9. Listen to a podcast
I love listening to podcasts in the mornings, whether it's an inspirational one or the latest episode of a crime/thriller podcast. They can make a traffic-filled drive so much better - I won't even notice that I'm sitting in traffic! I blogged about some of my favorite podcasts here.

10. Sticky notes of affirmation

I sometimes leave sticky notes for myself in places that I'll be sure to see them - like on my bathroom mirror or my Keurig machine (seriously, I do!). Whether it's an uplifting Bible verse or an inspirational quote, I can't help but smile when I read them.

I'd love to hear some things you do in the morning to start your day out on a positive note! Let us all know in the comments :)

P.S. There's only two more days to enter my giveaway for a David Yurman bracelet, T3 curling wand and monogram necklace! Enter here!

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35 comments:

I like to do a lot of the things mentioned in the morning to start my day off right! One additional thing I like to do in the morning is sit outside with my dog, Gatsby, while he runs around the yard. Not only does this allow for him to get some energy out before I leave for work and he's cooped up inside all day, but it also allows for me to breathe in some fresh morning air and see the sunrise!

Love your advice and these photos are beyond cute! Your dog is such a sweetie :)For me it really helps picking my outfit for work the night before, that makes the morning a lot more relaxing.♡KristinaTheKontemporary

Great advice, Caitlin! You're right on all of these points! I clean my apt before I travel because I like the feeling of walking in the door to a spotless home. I feel less stressed because all I have to do is unpack! I do the music thing too! I put on Lauren Daigle in the morning myself. When you physically move such as dancing, you put yourself "in state" as Tony Robbins calls it. If you're ever nervous for a meeting, phone call or whatever, get in state because "motion creates emotion" and it really works! You're right on picking out your outfit the night before. My mornings are less stressful when I've done that. I haven't done that in years so thanks for the reminder! Have a great weekend! xo

Such an amazing post topic-- I loved all of these tips!! I do sticky notes of affirmation too, and also write notes to my future self on random days in my planner. <3

DEFINITELY needed the reminder about the blinds though. Every time my mom comes over, she's like "why is your house so dark?!" (Because I like to walk around in my underwear, mom.) Seriously though, a dark home can definitely make you feel depressed and sluggish! I'm gonna take that one to heart.

I love these ideas-especially leaving sticky notes for yourself! I'm a teacher, so sometimes I'll do sticky notes on my students desk for them to find when they come to class in the morning-if it works for them, why wouldn't it work for me too!

Hi Caitlin :) my name is Larisa and i just recently started following your blog. Im usually not a blog reader but because i have an obsession with fashion as well, lol i absolutely love yours!! Have you ever read the devotional Jesus Calling?? its amazing :)

These are awesome ideas!!! I always love listening to music while putting my makeup on! I live for that moment haha. And also I just told myself to start picking out outfits the night before !! Even more points if ya can do it all Sunday for the entire week haha. Love your post !!! Keep up the great writing as always <3

I love all of these tips!! I always think about coffee the night before I work, I wake up a little earlier than I need to just so I can sit in the quiet, sipping coffee and doing a devitional. I love how you do devotional too! Have you read the Jesus calling ones? Short and sweet and always seem to say the perfect thing I need to hear when I need it. God bless you Caitlin!

I love this post! Some of these I do and have found helpful (e.g. doing the dishes the night before), but I haven't tried a devotional or planning a yummy breakfast. Definitely going to try both. Thanks Caitlin!

The devotional part is my favorite! I try to do a devotional everyday to keep my spirits positive throughout the entire day. The book you suggested looks amazing, I'll have to try it out! I'm so excited!

Caitlin I love this post! The devotional part is my favorite! Right now I am reading the Live Original devotional by Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynsasty and it is SO good! I'll have to try the one you suggested though. I'm so excited!

I agree with you, though. Waking up in a good mood is essential to having a great day. Although when you work a regular job it's tough to get through this list lol. I find a little time spent with my coffee and breakfast, and enough time to get ready without feeling like i'm rushed is good for me. Love the devotion though - i'd like to start doing it while i have my coffee

Love these and will definitely be incorporating them into my routine! My boyfriend and I have opposite work shifts so I can't open the blinds but I do still listen to music (with headphones on) while I get ready. I actually keep some dry erase markers in the bathroom and write right on my mirror instead of using sticky notes, my boyfriend and I will also write each other little love notes on the mirror since we wake up at opposite times. I also find packing my lunch the night before lets me spend time making and enjoying a nice breakfast. If I am really on the ball I try and prep lunches on Sunday for the week. I also love stretching in the morning, I try and work out first thing most days but even if I don't have time I try and stretch for a few mins.

I'm with you on a morning meditation, it can make a huge difference. And I also always pick out my outfit the night before, it makes dressing so much easier. Another tip I enjoy is have my food packed up the night before too, so I don't have to rush in the morning.